(a) The Board shall not determine that a franchise shall be terminated either upon grounds identified by Section 11-1.1208 of this article or pursuant to subsection (k)of Section 11-1.411 of Article 4 of this chapter until a hearing has been conducted upon the matter. Written notice of the time, date, and place of the hearing shall be mailed to the grantee and to the grantee’s surety on the performance bond filed pursuant to Section 11-1.1508 of Article 15 of this chapter not later than thirty (30) calendar days in advance of the date of the commencement of the hearing. The notice shall state the reasons for the hearing, describe the basis for termination, and identify the terms, conditions, or requirements with respect to which the breach has occurred, if a breach is the basis for termination.
(b) The hearing may be conducted either by the Board or, at the sole discretion of the Board, by a hearing officer appointed by the Board to conduct the hearing. Any such hearing officer shall be an attorney licensed to practice under the laws of the State.
(c) The cost of providing quarters for the hearing, the compensation for the hearing officer, if any, and the per diem cost of any reporter retained to record the proceedings shall be borne by the County. The cost of preparing a transcript and record of the hearing shall be borne by the grantee. All costs incurred by the parties for attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, and other expenses shall be borne solely by the party incurring the costs. (§ 1, Ord. 961, eff. October 27, 1983, as amended by § 11, Ord. 999, eff. March 7, 1985)